by Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

by Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY

Cathay Pacific's female flight attendants want the Hong Kong-based carrier to make their uniforms less sexy.

The carrier's female attendants are concerned their blouses are too short and their skirts too tight, the Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union (FAU) says to Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.

In particular, the short blouses often show off too much flesh when attendants bend down, the union tells the newspaper.

"They are worried about the uniform being too short when they work," FAU vice chairman Julian Yau says, suggesting the uniforms may provoke cases of sexual harassment.

Cathay Pacific, whose service is among the world's most highly regarded, introduced the uniforms in 2011. The company has so far rebuffed requests to overhaul the female attendants' uniforms.

"The blouse is too short and does not cover enough," FAU spokeswoman Michelle Choi adds to the Morning Post. "Whenever a flight attendant bends down, her waistline is exposed. We believe the company intentionally does this to make us look a bit sexier and to let the passenger see more."

Sparking attendants' focus on the uniforms is that the FAU says cases of harassment against cabin crew are on the rise. The union wants both guidance and a formal policy from the company on how to handle such situations.

"When you report it to the flight manager, they always say it is the crew member's decision whether or not to call the police," Choi says to the Morning Post about attendants who face harassing situations. "They tell you, 'It's your decision. Do you want to delay the flight by calling the police?' "

Choi says the union expects to raise the uniform issue with management during a meeting next week.

As for Cathay Pacific, the carrier issued a written statement to the Morning Post saying:

"We welcome feedback from the crew and certain modifications have also been made, including the length of the blouse and the tightness of the skirt. Crew are welcome to exchange their uniform any time if they feel the fit is not right."

The company also said it takes the issue of harassment "seriously" and that it does not tolerate it in "any form."